The latest kidnapping of 4 People in Mexico highlights a standard apply for many individuals within the U.S.: touring to different international locations for medical care that both will not be out there at house or prices so much much less.
Folks go away the U.S. for dental procedures, cosmetic surgery, most cancers remedies and prescribed drugs, specialists say. In addition to Mexico, different frequent locations embody Canada, India and Thailand.
Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at the apply.
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Medical tourism has been rising in recognition for years, based on Lydia Gan, an economist on the College of North Carolina at Pembroke who research the apply.
This journey is common with individuals who haven’t any medical health insurance or plans that make them pay 1000’s of {dollars} earlier than protection begins.
Massive employers additionally typically ship individuals lined by their insurance coverage to different international locations for hip or knee replacements or bariatric surgical procedure. Some additionally ship individuals to Mexico for costly prescribed drugs.
Value is a big issue. Care in international locations like Mexico could be greater than 50% cheaper than it’s in america, based on Jonathan Edelheit, CEO of the non-profit Medical Tourism Affiliation, an business commerce group.
And beauty surgical procedures, like tummy tucks that value 1000’s of {dollars}, are largely uncovered by U.S. well being insurers.
Sufferers additionally typically journey as a result of they’ll get faster entry to some care exterior the U.S. In addition they could wish to search remedy from a health care provider who speaks their language or comes from the identical tradition.
Researcher Arturo Bustamante estimates that roughly 400,000 individuals traveled from the U.S. to Mexico annually for care earlier than COVID-19 hit. The College of California, Los Angeles well being coverage professor mentioned the quantity dropped below pandemic stay-at-home orders however then rapidly rebounded.
The general public visiting Mexico for care are Mexican or Latino immigrants dwelling in america, he mentioned.
Non-Latino sufferers primarily cross the border for dental work, to purchase prescribed drugs or obtain care like cosmetic surgery or some most cancers remedies not lined within the U.S.
Sufferers can take steps to reduce dangers of receiving care abroad.
They need to heed U.S. authorities journey alerts about their meant locations, Edelheit mentioned.
Journey security additionally could be enhanced if a medical tourism agent works with the affected person, Gan famous. Hospitals or care suppliers usually can have somebody choose sufferers up on the airport and take them to their physician appointment or lodge.
Sufferers additionally ought to do analysis on care high quality earlier than taking a look at costs, Edelheit mentioned. They need to be taught the place their potential physician obtained coaching and search for any accreditations or certifications.
“They really want to ensure they’re going with the most effective of the most effective,” he mentioned.
The danger for sufferers could not finish after the process. If somebody has issues after returning house, it could be arduous for his or her U.S. physician to be taught the main points concerning the care obtained throughout a visit.
Sufferers additionally could discover it tough to sue their physician or hospital in Mexico, Bustamante mentioned.
“Navigating the system is often sophisticated,” he mentioned.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group. The AP is solely accountable for all content material.
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